Sunset Sunset
American idols
  • Food & Drink
    • Recipes
    • Wine & Drinks
    • Holidays
    • Parties & Menus
    • Garden to Table
    • Grilling
  • Home & Garden
    • Garden Basics
    • Edible Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • Green Living
    • Flowers & Plants
    • Home Tours
    • DIY Projects
    • Decorating & Design
    • Beverly Hills Idea House
    • Silicon Valley Idea House
    • Outdoor Living
  • Lifestyle
    • Gifts & Shopping
    • Weddings
    • Pets
    • Tech
    • Family
    • Wellness
    • Videos
  • Travel
    • Destination Guides
    • Outdoor Adventure
    • Camping
    • National Parks
    • Culinary Travel
    • Wine Country
    • Road Trips
    • Hotels
  • Subscribe
  • Food & Drink
    • Recipes
    • Wine & Drinks
    • Holidays
    • Parties & Menus
    • Garden to Table
    • Grilling
  • Home & Garden
    • Garden Basics
    • Edible Gardening
    • Landscaping
    • Green Living
    • Flowers & Plants
    • Home Tours
    • DIY Projects
    • Decorating & Design
    • Beverly Hills Idea House
    • Silicon Valley Idea House
    • Outdoor Living
  • Lifestyle
    • Gifts & Shopping
    • Weddings
    • Pets
    • Tech
    • Family
    • Wellness
    • Videos
  • Travel
    • Destination Guides
    • Outdoor Adventure
    • Camping
    • National Parks
    • Culinary Travel
    • Wine Country
    • Road Trips
    • Hotels
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine Customer Service
  • Marketplace
  1. Sunset
  2. Home & Garden
  3. Garden Basics

American idols

These seed-grown flowers perform well in Western gardens

Dick Bushnell,

Each year, the All-America Selections program identifies praiseworthy seed-grown flowers and vegetables. Among the 2004 AAS winners we tried last summer in the Sunset gardens, two stood out, flourishing in full sun.

Alcea rosea ‘Queeny Purple’. This dwarf hollyhock grows only 2 to 3 feet tall, making it suitable for containers or small gardens. Started indoors from seed in February or March, the plant blooms abundantly its first season. The 3- to 4-inch-wide double blossoms have frilly edges and puffy pincushion centers.

Celosia plumosa ‘Fresh Look Red’ and ‘Fresh Look Yellow’. Talk about long bloom: This sultry pair flaunted its vibrant flower plumes from early summer to mid-October. Reaching 18 to 24 inches tall, the plants need no deadheading. The soft, feathery plumes can be cut for fresh bouquets or dried for everlasting arrangements. Avoid overhead water.

Look for seedlings of these plants in garden centers this spring, or order seeds now from Nichols Garden Nursery ( www.nicholsgardennursery.com or 800/422-3985) or Park Seed ( www.parkseed.com or 800/213-0076).

You May Like

Read More

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Get fresh recipes, wine pairings, weekend getaway ideas, regional gardening tips, home design inspiration, and more.
Sign up

Subscribe & Save

Subscribe today for as little as $1.34 per issue!
GET IT NOW

Sign Up for our Newsletter

Get fresh recipes, wine pairings, weekend getaway ideas, regional gardening tips, home design inspiration, and more.
Sign up
Sunset
Sunset
  • Food and Drink
  • Home and Garden
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Newsletters
  • Video
About
  • About Us
  • Events & Offers
  • Subscriptions
  • Site Map
Contact
  • Advertising
  • Careers
  • Email the Editors
  • Magazine Customer Service
Copyright © 2018 Sunset Publishing Corporation. SUNSET is a registered trademark of Sunset Publishing Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. SUNSET may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.